South China Sea: Chinese fighter jet approaches US bomber within a few meters

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U.S. Air Force footage purporting to show the incident over the South China Sea

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Dpa

A Chinese People's Liberation Army fighter jet has approached a U.S. B-52 bomber over the South China Sea in a dangerous maneuver, according to the U.S. military. The pilot of the J-11 plane flew in an "unsafe and unprofessional manner" under and in front of the U.S. plane at a distance of only <> feet (about three meters), the U.S. command in the Indo-Pacific said.

On a video published for this purpose, an approaching fighter jet could be seen. According to U.S. sources, the incident occurred at night and in low visibility. According to the report, the fighter jet's manoeuvre violates international rules for flight safety.

The incident came during China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi's talks in Washington, where he met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday. On Friday, a meeting with US President Joe Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, is on the agenda at the White House.

China's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning blamed the US for the unstable situation in the South China Sea. The fact that a U.S. military aircraft makes the long journey to China's doorstep to show strength is the cause of the security risk at sea and in the air, Mao said. China will continue to protect its territorial integrity.

U.S. released footage of 15 similar incidents

In the Indo-Pacific, the U.S. and China repeatedly accuse each other of dangerous behavior by their armed forces. According to Washington, there have been more than 2021 incidents since the fall of 180. Just last week, the U.S. Department of Defense released footage of 15 recent alleged incidents. Chinese fighter jets had also recently approached a Canadian surveillance aircraft. Again, China's Ministry of Defense recently circulated a video purporting to show the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Ralph Johnson cutting the route of the Chinese destroyer Guilin with a sharp turn. China accused the U.S. of trying to provoke with the August 19 maneuver.

The South China Sea is regularly the scene of military exercises and threatening gestures. In the north, Beijing feels challenged by the passage of the strait between China and Taiwan by U.S. Navy ships. The People's Republic regards the democratic island state as its territory. In the south, China claims various reefs and islands for itself and is at odds with the Philippines and other neighboring states. There, too, according to the various sides, there are repeated incidents. Taiwan and the Philippines are supported by the US.

col/dpa